January 21, 2017

Human nature is truly interesting.  The temple has been open five days a week since the 2nd week in
August.  But suddenly we were approaching our winter maintenance closure for two weeks.  The first part of this week was slow.  But Friday and Saturday were so busy I can't begin to describe them.  Why do people suddenly think, "Oh my goodness, the temple is closing for two weeks!  I have to go before it closes!"  I think it is a guilty conscience for procrastinating.  Or maybe they don't have the faith that we will really and truly open up again in two weeks.  Who knows?!   I'm so glad they come, but by saving it to the very end it creates a ton of laundry for the missionaries that has to be done before the closure.  We went back last night and worked for about 2 1/2 hours doing preliminary stuff to get it ready for cleaning and maintenance.  It is truly a privilege to work in the Lord's House in any capacity.  I loved providing the service and the camaraderie with the other missionaries.

Last Sunday night we had a missionary fireside with President Bean as the speaker.  The brother of his great-grandfather, Willard Bean, was called on a mission to live in the Smith family home in Palmyra in 1915 when there were great hostilities still against the Mormons (traditions of their fathers and all that).  He has a fascinating story.  I borrowed the book, "A Lamb and a Lion" referring to Willard and his wife.  It is by Rand H. Packer and is very interesting if any of you have access to it and want a quick read--this would fill the bill.

The weather has been warm the last couple of days--in the 50s.  It is supposed to be in the 60s tomorrow.  But we will be on the road.   We won't enjoy it here, but will enjoy it in points south of here.  We finally know what we are doing.  We are headed back to Virginia to visit Jon and Marjon and then on to NC to visit John and Cassie. 

We called Jon this week to see if it would work for them.  He was so quick to say, "Absolutely!"  Then a few minutes later he called back.  We had the phone on speaker and so did he.  He said, "OK kids, here is the surprise I mentioned.  Grandpa and Grandma are coming to visit us next Monday night!"  The kids were cheering and yelling and so excited!  It is wonderful to feel their love coming right thru the air waves.  Then when I talked to Cassie, Rachel said she had "big plans" for when we are there.  I asked what the big plans were and she said, "Daddy is going to set your bed up and I'm going to make it.  Those are big plans!"  She is so cute and so excited.

We look forward to having the same type of response from Lucy and Charlotte sometime in the future.  Lucy always asks when she can see us, but it just hasn't worked out yet.

I don't have any pictures this week, so I will move right on to Spencer's note.

Love,
Jeanine/Grandma

Something happened the other day which I have reflected on since then (the past three weeks).  I had an appointment with a sinus specialist up in the Bronx.  He is part of a wonderful and very large facility.  They "mostly" accept Medicare for payment.  The volume of patients makes up the difference.  It can be three weeks to a month to get an appointment.

Jeanine and I went to the bus stop.  It was during the very frigid weather.  We waited for about 20 minutes and then when the bus came, it was crammed with people and she wouldn't stop.  We went to the next block to catch another bus and it didn't come.  It is about 1/2 mile across Central Park and I suggested that she go back home and I would try to hustle across the park to catch the right subway.  I started down the road but found it impossible to keep going because of the banks of snow from the road being plowed.  It covered the sidewalk and it was too icy to walk on.  It could have taken half a day to pass thru that.  Thinking that I could cross the road and find passage on the other side, I attempted to cross thru the traffic to get there.  It was the same on the other side.  A man in a delivery van honked at me (knowing full well what I was getting into).  He said he would take me, reminiscent of the experience in the 90s when unknown persons helped me get off the I-10 freeway.  He was headed toward Hunter College, exactly where I needed to catch the #6 subway.  He was so accommodating and pleasant in his service and would not accept money.  Because of that great favor I was able to get to the medical center in time for my appointment.  What were the chances at a given moment of real need that someone would stop in traffic and offer to take me across Central Park"?  That is what Elder Bednar called a tender mercy.  Would I be wise to say, "Boy that was good luck."?
Another learning experience happened when I had gone to the temple three hours early to work with Spanish speaking people.  I had had good experiences all day, pushing myself to facilitate the efforts of those people who were understaffed and inexperienced.  As I came back to the apartment I felt that I had gone the extra mile that day.  Then I received a phone call from my son, telling me of the extreme circumstances he was going thru.  I keep his family on the prayer roll and include them daily in our prayers.  I have faith that our work here will bless the lives of our family at home.  At that moment I asked myself how this could be.  I am still assured that in the scheme of things that the promise that our families will be blessed while we serve missions, will work for our good.

It takes more faith to continue to believe when the blessings are not immediate or obvious.  I feel strong in my witness that there are blessings, despite the challenges faced by our families while we are serving.

Spencer/Grandpa